Packability
Packability
This one is pretty simple. The smaller or less bulky a jacket is, the easier it’ll be to pack away in your jersey pocket or saddle pack. It makes a lightweight jacket the ideal item to carry with you on a day where it looks like it may rain, but you don’t want to start out in full shower-ready kit just in case.
The best way to see whether a jacket will pack down is to try. Some, like Endura FS260-Pro Adrenaline Race Cape come in their own little carry bags to demonstrate just how easy they are to downsize, while others, like the Assos sJ.blitzFeder, can be folded in on themselves and form what amounts to their own bag.
No matter what, and no matter how much smart thought has gone into it, in practice almost all of us resort to stuffing the jersey into a pocket, especially anyone who takes theirs off while still riding, so it’s best to have a go with that method too, just in case.
One other factor to consider is weight, which is linked with packability . It’s not necessarily a deal breaker, but you don’t want to be trying to fit a 500g jacket into your rear pocket when there are 200g offerings (and far lighter) on the market. Sportful’s lightest jacket, the HotPack Ultra Light, weighs just 50g, while the aforementioned Assos sJ.blitzFeder is 96g.
Also, as far as weight is concerned, the more you have loaded into your pockets the less comfortable the jersey can feel, which can become a real pain on a long ride. Many heavyweight jackets won’t pack down small enough to be worth considering anyway, but it’s worth keeping in mind.